As the oldest gem in the Bristish Crown Jewels, sapphires have always been associated with royalty. In Roman times, kings and queens wore sapphires to protect themselves from treachery. Blue sapphires are by far the most popular, and have been made so even more recently with Prince William giving his mother’s, Princess Diana’s, blue sapphire and diamond ring to his now wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

However, sapphire comes in every color but red (because red is ruby). Sapphires traditionally signify truth, sincerity, and faithfulness, and, in the Middle Ages, it was thought that wizards used sapphires to control spirits and understand prophecies. Today, many people wear sapphires because the stone is said to bring blessings.